Graduate Student/Supervisor Relationship

CMAHRO Fall 2009 1

Matt EricksonDirector

GSO/Faculty/Department MeetingDecember 13, 2011

Continuum of Conflict Management Processes

No assistance, direct communication

Informal 3rd party assistance with...

Formal 3rd party assistance: no direct communication

•Negotiation•Meetings•Conversations

•Conciliation•Coaching•Team Building

•Coaching•Training•Facilitation•Mediation

•Advisory mediation•Fact finding•Settlement conferences

•Grievances•Arbitration•Investigation•Adjudication

Relationship Process Substantive

Informal: despite the intervention, the party retains control over, and input into, the final outcome.

Formal: the party gives up controlover, and has limited input into, the finaloutcome.

Adapted from: Moore, Christopher et. al. Effective Mediation.Boulder: CDR Associates, 1989.

CMAHRO Fall 2009 3

• Low confidence• Lack knowledge “how to …”• Lack requisite skills• Lack support … “I’m all alone”• Uncertainty• Carelessly framed problems

and solutions

Examples of Barriers That Can Impede Effective Early Resolution

Attempts

CMAHRO Fall 2009 4

• What is the issue [topic] that you want to discuss with your supervisor?

The Workbook …

• What are the key points that you want the supervisor to understand...

• Set the appropriate context for the conversation

CMAHRO Fall 2009 5

Assess potential barriers …The Workbook (cont’d)

presence of cultural factors that might get in the way

assess previous attempts to have conversations: what got in the way?

are there things you’re doing that might be distracting your supervisors?

are negative emotions getting in the way?

CMAHRO Fall 2009 6

• Develop strategies on how they can be overcome• Consider if there is any

other support or resource they need

• Prepare them to share impacts of behavioural concerns

• Plan ahead for questions and options

• Plan timing and setting

The Workbook (cont’d)

CMAHRO Fall 2009 7

The Workshop

identify opportunities

potential for

negative outcome

reinforce the importance of early commitment

assessment, strategies and process

Matt Erickson

Director, CMAHRO519-888-4567

x 33765erickson@uwaterloo.ca

Presence of

high negative

emotions

Presence of active negative filters contributing to

misperception, pre-judgements

Characteristics of a Damaged Relationship

Distrust is high Desire to

understand another’s

perspective is lowEffective communication is low

• Questions that promote understanding diminish and are replaced by statements• The quality of listening diminishes

POS

P R O C E S S SUBSTANCE

G O O D

Positive SubstanceGood Process

Negative SubstanceGood Process

Positive SubstancePoor Process

Negative SubstancePoor Process

NEG

P O O R

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME UNSUCCESSFUL

influences

G O O D CONCERNS EMERGING P O O R

RELATIONSHIP

Good Relationship

Good Relationship

Poor Relationship

Poor Relationship